Summerfest Journal: Interview, Malik Yusef

As some of you know Lupe Fiasco is performing tonight at the Miller Oasis Stage at 10pm at Summerfest. However, at 8pm a multi-talented artist also from Chicago is performing. His name is Malik Yusef. He is a spoken word artist, MC, and actor. He has been featured on Def Poetry Jam and played a role in the movie Love Jones.

Malik was raised in Chicago’s South Side neighborhood known as the “Wild 100’s” and is a former member of the widespread Islamic street gang The Blackstone Rangers. In his youth he became friendly with rapper Common Sense who was a member of the Four Corner Hustlers organization at the time. He was self-diagnosed with Dyslexia as a teenager but overcame his learning disability and word-impairment, earning himself a place among the urban intelligentsia. He has evolved over the years from a street hustler into a street poet. His name translates to “ruler” in Arabic.

I got a chance to talk to Malik before his show tonight at Summerfest about his new album on Kanye West's label G.O.O.D. Music, about his turbulent past, his spoken word and more. Check out and download the full un-edited interview with Malik Yusef and check out his latest song Magic Man featuring Kanye West and Common which is about domestic abuse.

Unless you have been under a rock, you may know about the Justin Vernon and Aaron Dessner (The National) curated festival known as Eaux Claires. The festival will take place July 17-18 in Justin Vernon's hometown of Eau Claire.
Well,...

What do get when you take 70 local bands and have them perform in three neighborhoods over 3 days? Then take 100% of the proceeds and donate to the art & music programs of three Milwaukee schools? You’ll get the the inaugural Arte Para...

Here is an early Spring treat. Polica just announced a small tour to kick off in April. One of those stops will be at the Cactus Club on April 7. I wonder if this means that we can expect new music from the band. Apparently frontwoman ...